Apparatus for softening shoe stiffeners



May 10, 1932. H. SAWYER ET AL 1,857,213

APPARATUS FOR SOFTENING SHOE STIFFENERS Filed Nov.l4. 1927 9 P 2 //WE/\/ 705 5- Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT[OFFICE 1 H RoLn Ill. sAwY 'R, or LYNN, AND .ronnw. ooseeovn; or MEDFORD, MASSACHU- ,sE'r'rs, ASSIGNQRS TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, or rA'rEnson, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW messy. I p v l APPARATUS roasoir'rnnme. sHoE s'rrrrmvnns Application filed November 14,1921: Serial No. 233,144;

I This invention relates to .an apparatus for softening shoe stiffeners and is. herein disclosed as ellllJOdlGCllIl an apparatus for applying a solvent liquid to portions of stiffening members used in the toe portions of boots and shoes. i i

In the manufacture of boots and shoes it is customary to incorporate stifleners in the uppers thereof. In order to promotebrevity the invention will be described in its application to a certain type of stiifener which is adaptedto be incorporated in the toe portion of the upper of 'a shoe. A stiffener of this'type comprises a suitably shaped piece of fabric impregnated with celluloid or some hard and resilient substance which is soluble in a volatile solvent such for example as a mixture of alcohol and acetone In .the manufacture of a shoe such a stiffener isyfirst dipped in the solvent to render it. limpand usually also sticky.and is then placed in the toe portion of the upper of the shoe. I The upper, with the stifi'eneigis first subjected to the pulling-over operationand then to the lasting operation at the completion of which the stiffener has been ,conformedtoithe toe portion of the last. The lasted shoe. is then put through the various operations which complete it, and the last is kept in the shoe until the volatile solvent has evaporated so that in the finished shoe the molded stiffener has become hard and resilient. When only a short period of timefor example three or four hourselapses between the pulling-over and the lasting operations, no difliculty is encounteredibut when-as is the .case in some factones-twenty-four hoursor more elapse between the two operations, the stifi'en-- ers frequently becomehard, and'their'mar gins must be again treated with solvent liquid .so as to resoften them prior to the lasting operation. I r

Accordingto one feature of the invention there is provided an apparatus for perform ing the abovereferred'to and similar softening operations comprlslng operator-con- .trolled means for delivering a solvent liquid;

intermittently in measured quantities to a nozzle which is constructed and arranged to apply the solvent liquid continuously to the trated construction, is heightwise adjustable relatively to the normal working level of the marginof the stiffenen In the illustrated apparatus the nozzle has a constricted passage opening into a groove which serves to retain'more or less of the liquid, the groove being formed in an end of the nozzle. This grooved endis-thin and fan-shaped, being formed to accommodate the general curvature of the stifi'enerandto-distribute the sol- .vent liquid along the line to be treated. As illustrated,'the constricted passage leading .to the groove is of suchismall bore as substantially to prevent the flow of the liquid ,under'the normal head at which the liquid is supplied, thereby ensuring that the liquid shall be delivered as desired and inrelatively small. amounts to avoid any danger of the liquid working through the leather and i-mpairing theappearance of the outside of the shoe. Means are preferably {provided for intheillustrated; apparatus,take the form of a valve which also functions as a plunger,

and which in its: operative movement displaces some of the liquid and thereby tempo Irarilv augments the headof the liquid. In

the illustratedfconstructionthe liquid is sup- 3 plied to the valve through a flexible tube leading to; the valveand nozzle, the valve be ing disposed within a hollow handle, and the nozzle being ofi'setifrom the handle to permit A access of the nozzle to the margin of the stifle'ner when the upper-has been drawn over A a last. The solvent liquid is suppliedto the tube from a reservoirwh ch, in the -illusnozzle to vary the amount of: liquid allowed A to pass by the constriction.

, These and other features of the: invention, includingcertain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, are to-be explained in the following description'and pointed out in the claims. v

-,-Inth'e accompanying drawings, showing an embodiment of the invention: l

Fig. 1 is a general view of the apparatus in position for use upon a shoe;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through the nozzle and valve; and

Fig.3 is a. sectional; plan view,1showing.the

' internal structure of the noz zle.

' A reservoir 1, which may assume the form ofoany,suitablecontainer is clamped. upona standard"? by. meansiof .la; clamp '15.;a1idset screwW', so asto permit the reservoirltolbe vertically adjusted upon standard 3;" "The lower portion of the reservoir-l communicates with a flexible tube 9, preferably of rubber,

which is secured at its-ifzurthen endto aimetal tubell which leads to a valve chamber 13.

Surroundin'g the tube 11 is =a Wooden handle 1-5 to enable the operator to' grasp the device.

Th han'dle 15 is secured=upon the tube 11 .by

means o f a washer 17 threadedupon the' outer on rear-end of the tube IL -and the-threads whereby the washer '17 =is' retained afiord "a convenientattaching nie'ans forthe-end-of the rubber tubeQ, "although any other suitable "method or connection may; be employed.

as The valve 'chamber 113, which is carried upon-and preferably; as illustrated,i is integral wi-th the forward end of the tube-11, has :a valve=seat l9 concentric with,-an'din effect a.-* co'ntinuat-io-1rof'-, thdtube 11; through which valveseat liquid may 'pass- 'from the tube 11 to-"the interior gift-he valve 5'chamber 13. fThe 'fo'rwafd'i end- 0f the zv'Erl-Ve :chamber "123 is threaded-to receive a plug"21"having a' I bore :23 concentric with-the valve seat 19," the '35 "bore123 servingas aiguide 'for a valve plunger "25 whichis adapted to cooperate 1 with the valve seat 19 3 in controlling the {passage of 'liquid 'into'"the valve chamber} 13'. Aw'alv'e stem 2'Z, of smaller diameteri than the valve 4.0 plunger 25 and secured thereto, extends r through a bore in tl1e' forward end ofthe plug 21. A helical sp'rin'g {29 surrounding .the valve stem 27 and contained within theebore T 23 is compressed between the 1 'fOIWELldiBIld 6f thepjlug F2 and thevalve 25? and thus urges the valve-w closedpo'sition; leather wash- -er 31 'covers the se'ating'face of: the val-ve phm'gerza Aislot-33 is-provided: inthe-forward endf hffthe valvestemr27aoutside. ofzlthe eph1gc21, "andranarm 35:01 aabellacrank .37 ':'engages; the slot :33 to. opemthevalve plunger :25 against-the pressure o-f. thespring 29. .-.The -othercarm rof theibellicrankfi'l'. extends .rear- WardlyEand-ierminatesin a:fiat..thurnb=piece D39 adjacentto theh andle. 15. IIhe. bell crank 13? .is-rocked.aboutrapivot iLmounted between a pair of ears 43 carried on a collar 45 which ,is secured, aroundthe "forward portion of. the plug'21 by means ofNa'JsetscreWe'Z. .tA gasis;interposed between' the; collarl45 and the "forwa'rdend' ofthe"valve-chamber 13 to prevent. leakage. The. valve plunger 25i fits the *bore "23 'suffibient :fclivs'eness -to& effect a substantial sealagainst leakage. *Whenretracted to permit the flow of liquid through the valve seat 19, the valve plunger 25 ex tends partially or wholly within the bore 23. The thickness of the valve plunger 25 is such, in relationto its closing movement; that even when this member is-moved under the infiuence of the spring 29 to fully closed position, the valve plunger25v partially extends within the bore 23', and at all times prevents leakage through the bore. ""Thefva-lve stem 27 fits its bore' in theelid of the plug '21 loosely, --to permit-ventingtof. the air or of any liquid which mightbe trapped within the bore 23 between the: outer end :of the plug 21 and the valve plunger 25.

Extending laterally' from' one side of the valve chamber l3 and integral therewith is a hollow cylindrical lug-51 internally threaded to I receive a f plug. 53. The outer portion :of the plug 53 is diametrically boredrpart way through to receive the rear end of a-z'iiorwandly'extending'nozzle 55; which is laterally ofi'- set from the tube 11 -and the-valve chamber V 1 3; iThebellcrank 37 ispositione'da on; the

opposite side of the :valve chamber11'3 from the lug 51an'd the nozzle55. iThenozzle 55 is -bored1=toiform aipassagei 57 extending: forwar'dlyi from the rear: end "of the nozzle ;::a=nd .a'1passa ge' 59 in :tl1ez1plugf53; which 1 extends laterally: with/respect to the F nozzle; 55 communi'c ates :r.at vone rend fWlth? the ':.p.assage:;57 :and at: the other; erid with ancoutlet opening -611- iini thefside fwallaof: the valvei chamber 5 13, thereby;connecting:the interior or thGIIIDZZlG nvith: the interior of the'valve chamber.

l-Theinozzle -55 is of. cylindrical foran except :for its forwarcliend' Fig- 3) which is=gradurally flattened to. aTeizitivelythiai edge .63 or" about tone-sixteenth :of:-an-.,.=inch in: thickness, :the aforwarid land of Jthe nozzle 2 also gzbein-g cgraidiially ibroadened 35 5 the edge-63 :is :apiproached The edgei63 is: rounded tova. coir ivezrcurveffor convenience: in a'pplicatiolrto i the. generally curvedportions' of .workrsuchaas 4a shoetoe'stiflener. s'l- -hmgradual broadenin and flattening; of .the forward endof theinoz- .';zle:55 together with the curvature ofthe edge 5 63 give this-"end aifan-tshaped :aa'ppearance. :The edge 63 isgrooved asat' 65 t-o-a width and depth 1 of isomewh'at. less than Tone-sixteenth :ofan inch; the groove-65Tfollowing the curvai'ture of theedge 63. Thevpassage- 5'7:does;not' -extend-xallthe "way to .the forward'erfd oithc nozzle '55; but is continued by ai passage. 67' of reducedf'diameter f to :accommodate their-latite ned end of thefnozzlel. J3hefpassage- 67' is connected to the groove 65 by a constricted "passa'ge69; diameter: of slightly less than onethirty-second of aninch lias'proved'satisfa'ctory for the constricted passage69, and 1 it need not be over a quarter of an 'inclrin length, While several radiating constricted passages-may beprOvi-ded to connect the pas sage67 with the groo'v'e 65; a single constrict- H ed passage has: proved satisfactory.

j ric stiffening members F, the device being To use the device, theoperator fills the con tainer 1 with a mixture of alcohol and acetone, or with other solvent'liquid, adjusting the container to suitable height on the standard 3 as will be hereinafter explained. Grasping the handle 15, he appliesthe for ward edge 63 of the nozzle 55 to the portions of the'fabrio stiffener which he desires to soften preparatory to the securing of these portions over the edge of the last. There is thus actual contact between the nozzle and thework. Fig. 1 shows the device in posi tion for operation upon a shoe S having fabconstructed and arranged so that, if desired,

shoescarried on a rack may be treated with out removing them from the rack. The groove 65, by virtue of its small width and depth, always retains more or less of the liquid, and will therefore distribute'the liquid uniformly and continuously along the line to .be treated, regardless of the intermittent operation of the control valve. The operator controls the supply of liquid, as he desires, by I manipulation of the thumb-piece 39; Upon opening the valve by the retraction of the valve plunger 25,: practically no liquid will issue from the nozzle 55, because of the retarding effect of the constricted passage 69. By permitting the valve to close, how-ever, under the influence of the spring 29, the valve plunger 25 will displace a portion of the liquid within the valve chamber 18, thereby setting up a momentary pressure within the valve chamber and forcing a portion of the displaced liquid through the constricted passage 69 into the groove 65. The greaterportion of the liquid displaced by the valve plunger 25 will thus be expelled through the nozzle 55 rather than be forced back into the tubes 11 and 9, because the inertia of the long column of liquid contained in these tubes, as well as the fluid head, will oppose the momentary pressure. The intermittent operation of the thumb-piece 39 will therefore effect the delivery of the liquid as required, depending upon the frequency of manipulation by the operator. As only a very small amount of the liquid will be delivered for each release of the thumb-piece, danger of injury to the leather by excessive quantities of the liquid may be avoided. By adjusting the container 1 to a greater or less heightrelatively to the the level of the point of use of the nozzle a greater or l ss fluid head may be obtained, so that when the container 1 is adjusted to a relatively high level, more of the liquid dis-- placed by the closing movement of the plunger 25 Will be expelled from the nozzle 55, and less of the displaced liquid will be allowed to flow back into the tube 11; while if the container 1 is adjusted to a relatively low level, less of the displaced liquid will be expelled from the nozzle 55 and more will be allowed to flow back into the tube 11. It will be notedthat for every'adjustment of the height of the container 1, the amount ofthe liquid delivered to the groove65 will be definite, be-

cause the displacement of the liquid in the valve chamber 13 by the valve plunger 25 will be d efinite, and each manipulation of the thumb-piece 39 will thereforeeffect the deliveryof a measured amount of the liquid.

The above described dimensions of the.

passage 69'and the groove 65 have been given merely as .a guide, and these dimensions may be varied to suit the character of the work. In the following claims, the term conduit is not limited'to the specific arrangement of elements (i. .e., the groove 65, the passages 69, 67, 57 and 59, theopening 61, the valve chamber 13, and the tubes lland 9) above demay pass, a valve within said handle, a flex ible supply tube connected to said handle upon the inlet side of said valve for supplying thereto 'a solvent liquid, and a delivery nozzle for applying the solvent liquid to the margin of a stiffener connected to the handle upon the outlet side of said valve, said nozzle being parallel to and laterallyolfset from said handle to permit access of the nozzle to the margin of the stiffener when the, upper has been drawn over alast.

- 2. A'device for softening the margin of a stiffener which has been incorporated in. a partially lasted upper, having, in combination, a conduit for conveyinga solvent liquid and having a constriction to retard thefiow of liquid throughsaid conduit and terminat- I ing in a delivery nozzle for applying the liquid to, the stiffener, a valve in said conduit,- a reservoir for supplying a solvent liquid to said conduit and positioned above'the normal working level of said nozzle to'eflect show of the liquid through said'conduit, and means for'adjusting the height of said reservoir relatively'to the normal working level of said nozzle to vary theamount of liquid allowed to pass by said constriction. I 3. A device forsoftening the margin of a stilfener which has'been incorporated in a partially lasted upper, having, in combination, a conduit for conveying a solvent liquid and having an inlet and an outlet end, and'a valve in SfiIClCOIlCllllt having a valve chainher, and a valve seat and having a valve of said chamber, wherebythe closing move ment of said valve plunger will displace'li'qplunger adapted to cooperate with said valve uid within said valve chamber and force the,

displaced liquid toward the outlet end of said conduit, said conduit having a constriction on the outlet side of said valve for retarding the flow ofliquid through said conduit.v

4. A device forso'ftening the inar ginof a stiffener which hasbeen incorporated in a partially-lasted upper, comprising a conduit adapted at one end to receive a supply of solvent liquid and at-itsopposite end to apply the liquid to the margin oi": the stiffener, and a plunger in said conduit adapted to displace by its movement a definite quantity of the liquid, said conduit being constructed and arranged to oppose the returnof. the" displaced liquid toward the receiving end of said conduit, whereby the .inovement of said plunger will cause the delivery of a measured amount of the solvent liquid to the margin of the stiffener. r

i 5. A device for delivering a solvent liquid to the margin of a stiffener which has been incorporated in a partially lasted upper, comprising a conduit having a supply end and a delivery end and constructed and ar ranged toetiect a normal head of the solvent liquid at said delivery end, means for substantially preventing the flow of the liquid through said delivery end under the influence of said normal head alone, and means for momentarily augmenting. said normal head to overcome said preventing means, thereby expelling a portion of the liquid within said conduit from said delivery end.

6. A device'for delivering a solvent liquid to the margin of a stiflener which has been "incorporated in a partially lasted upper,

comprising a conduit having a supply end and a delivery end and constructed and arranged to effect a normal head of the'solvent liquid at said delivery end, means for substantially preventing the flow of the liquid through said delivery end under the influencejof said normal head alone, means for V momentarily augmenting said normal head to overcome said preventing means, thereby expelling a portion ofthe liquid within said conduit'from said delivery end, and means for varying said normal head, thereby to vary the amount of the liquid expelled.

7. A nozzle for applying a solvent liquid to the margin of a'stittener which has been incorporated in a partially lasted upper, having a thin grooved end for distributing the liquid along'the line of theupper to be treated and having a constricted passage opening into the groove of said end.

' 8. A nozzle for applying a solvent liquid to' the margin of a stifiener which has been incorporated in a partially lasted upper,

comprising a tube having a thin end and also partially'lasted upper, comprisinga nozzle,

and operator-controlled means for delivering a solvent liquid intermittently in measured quantities to said nozzle, said nozzle being constructed and arranged to apply the solvent liquid continuously to the margin of the stiffener.

11. A device for softening the margin of a stiffener which has been incorporated in a partially lastedupper, comprising a nozzle having a grooved end for retaining liquid which may be received discontinuously by the nozzle and for continuously delivering such liquid for application to the margin of the stiffener, and means operable upon successive manipulations to supply at each manipulation a definite amount of the solvent liquid to said nozzle. I In testimony whereof I, the said HAROLD L. SAWYER, have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN W. COSGROVE. 

